Jc’s Shooting Star pulls upset in Fleet Indian

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Short field. Big purse. Nothing to lose.

That’s the way the connections of Jc’s Shooting Star, a maiden after losing her first six starts, approached Friday’s $196,000 Fleet Indian Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.

“Hoping to be third,” trainer David Donk said.

Jc’s Shooting Star did two spots better than that, rallying from last under Manny Franco and outgaming Conquest Superstep, the 9-5 second choice, to win the Fleet Indian by a head. Conquest Superstep finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of 4-5 favorite Temper Mint Patty, who was third. Freudie Anne and Congaroo completed the order of finish.

Jc’s Shooting Star, a daughter of Miracle Man, had finished second in four of six career starts, the last two races on turf. The Fleet Indian was run over a fast main track.

“She’s shown an affinity for both [surfaces], which you don’t often see,” Donk said.

Jc’s Shooting Star was only three lengths behind the pace-setting Freudie Anne after a half-mile run in 47.31 seconds. Jc’s Shooting Star began to launch a bid leaving the three-furlong marker in the 1 1/8-mile race, and tipped four wide in the stretch. Conquest Superstep, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, took over from Freudie Anne in midstretch but couldn’t hold off Jc’s Shooting Star.

Jc’s Shooting Star covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.39 and returned $38 as the second-longest price on the board.

“The owner hustled me; he really wanted to run here,” said Donk, referring to Jeff Pearl, the managing partner of Shooting Star Stable. “I knew a five-horse field, I had nothing to lose.

"I might have blown a couple of conditions here, but I guess for $200,000 that’s okay.”

Temper Mint Patty, dominant winner of the New York Oaks, was beaten three lengths. Jockey John Velazquez said Temper Mint Patty broke a little slowly, got up to the rest of the field, and wouldn’t relax.

“You can’t take a hold of her," Velazquez said. "She doesn’t help you."